OrbHab Paper
An Analysis of Hybrid Life Support Systems For Sustainable Habitats (2014)
ID: 129 Flag Paper
Title: An Analysis of Hybrid Life Support Systems For Sustainable Habitats
Authors: Margaret M. Shaw, Olivier L. de Wec
Journal Name: 44th International Conference on Environmental Systems
Year of Publication: 2014
Page Number: 0
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/129
Web Link: https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2346/59708/ICES-2014-149.pdf
BoK Link: [[paper:129]]
Abstract
The design of sustainable habitats on Earth, on other planetary surfaces, and in space, has motivated strategic planning with respect to life support (LS) system technology development and habitat design. Such planning requires LS system analyses including both high fidelity modeling and high level trade space exploration of candidate architectures. A particularly relevant trade for sustainable, long duration missions exists between the employment of bioregenerative and physicochemical LS technologies (e.g., producing food organically or bringing packaged food). In the case of the food subsystem, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to employing either pre-package food or a biomass production system (BPS), and factors such as the mass benefit of regenerative systems over long durations and crew operations time must be considered. This project investigates the trade between biologically grown food and stored food as part of the broader bioregenerative-physicochemical trade off in environmental control and life support systems for isolated and confined environments. Lunar and Mars surface habitats with varying degrees of bioregeneration for food and atmosphere revitalization are simulated using the BioSim advanced life support system simulation. An equivalent system mass (ESM) analysis is carried out, and improvement to crop lighting systems and agricultural system autonomy are considered as two possibilities for reducing infrastructure costs for biological food growth systems. The ESM analysis indicates that reducing lighting costs and increasing autonomy of the food production, processing, and preparation systems associated with the BPS will increase its feasibility and cost-effectiveness for use in long-term space flight. With no technology improvements, crossover points at which a hybrid system becomes ESM- optimal will likely not be less than about 4 years for lunar surface missions and 4.8 years for Mars surface missions; however, with significant improvements to the BPS and its supporting infrastructure needs, these crossover times can be more than halved. Ultimately the question that is posed is, what is the optimal combination of physicochemical and bioregenerative life support technologies for a given mission or mission campaign, and how can this drive strategic technology development?
Title: An Analysis of Hybrid Life Support Systems For Sustainable Habitats
Authors: Margaret M. Shaw, Olivier L. de Wec
Journal Name: 44th International Conference on Environmental Systems
Year of Publication: 2014
Page Number: 0
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/129
Web Link: https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2346/59708/ICES-2014-149.pdf
BoK Link: [[paper:129]]
Abstract
The design of sustainable habitats on Earth, on other planetary surfaces, and in space, has motivated strategic planning with respect to life support (LS) system technology development and habitat design. Such planning requires LS system analyses including both high fidelity modeling and high level trade space exploration of candidate architectures. A particularly relevant trade for sustainable, long duration missions exists between the employment of bioregenerative and physicochemical LS technologies (e.g., producing food organically or bringing packaged food). In the case of the food subsystem, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to employing either pre-package food or a biomass production system (BPS), and factors such as the mass benefit of regenerative systems over long durations and crew operations time must be considered. This project investigates the trade between biologically grown food and stored food as part of the broader bioregenerative-physicochemical trade off in environmental control and life support systems for isolated and confined environments. Lunar and Mars surface habitats with varying degrees of bioregeneration for food and atmosphere revitalization are simulated using the BioSim advanced life support system simulation. An equivalent system mass (ESM) analysis is carried out, and improvement to crop lighting systems and agricultural system autonomy are considered as two possibilities for reducing infrastructure costs for biological food growth systems. The ESM analysis indicates that reducing lighting costs and increasing autonomy of the food production, processing, and preparation systems associated with the BPS will increase its feasibility and cost-effectiveness for use in long-term space flight. With no technology improvements, crossover points at which a hybrid system becomes ESM- optimal will likely not be less than about 4 years for lunar surface missions and 4.8 years for Mars surface missions; however, with significant improvements to the BPS and its supporting infrastructure needs, these crossover times can be more than halved. Ultimately the question that is posed is, what is the optimal combination of physicochemical and bioregenerative life support technologies for a given mission or mission campaign, and how can this drive strategic technology development?